Nazarbaug Palace
Nazarbaug Palace or Nazar Bāgh Palace was the Gaekwad's royal palace in the city of Vadodara, Gujarat state, western India. The Nazar Bāgh Palace' was built in 1721. It had three storeys and is the oldest palace in Baroda. It was constructed by Malhār Rāo Gaekwad in the late 19th century. This palace was used on ceremonial occasions by the Gaekwads. Till recently, it housed the royal family heirlooms. It had solid gold and silver guns, each barrel weighing over 100 kg. In the grounds it also has contains the Shïsh Mahal, a Palace of Glass.
The Palace had a classic look, so in Gujarati it was told about its look as 'Nazar na laage' from which it was named Nazar. The Palace also had beautiful garden from which its name included baug. So it was named as Nazarbaug Palace.[1]
The white-stucco palace was the depository of the jewels of the Gaekwad family, and in 1927 the collection was believed to be worth $10,000,000 at the time, including a diamond necklace which carried both the Star of the South diamond, weight around 125 carats, and the English Dresden; another important part of the collection was a cloth embroidered with precious stones and seed pearls, made to cover the tomb of Muḥammad.[2]
The palace was in a state of ruin and does not reflect its former glory. The inside was ripped out after an alleged robbery. The grounds was used as a car park. Visitors are allowed to walk around but not allowed to take photos. Such is the state of this once beautiful palace the root of Gaekwad rule in Vadodara that today it is unrecognisable and possibly the land will be sold off for apartment constructions.
In October, 2014, the palace has been completely razed with only rubble and some parts of the floor now remaining.[3]
References
Coordinates: 22°18′03″N 73°12′41″E / 22.3007°N 73.2115°E
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